tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post993630048635611757..comments2023-09-20T17:55:43.908-05:00Comments on BookLust: [TSS] On the Soapbox: Being a Book SnobAartihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-49393155698590160932013-01-03T18:28:00.788-06:002013-01-03T18:28:00.788-06:00Oh, I judge your book group. I judge.
I'm su...Oh, I judge your book group. I judge. <br /><br />I'm sure they'll get over it. Carrie Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15585975894624687972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-1734534459666011562012-12-16T18:26:26.287-06:002012-12-16T18:26:26.287-06:00Lol! I think I'd enjoy being in a book club wi...Lol! I think I'd enjoy being in a book club with you. By the way, I didn't enjoy Pillars of the Earth either. :)Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-59522268576366443722012-12-13T16:42:50.427-06:002012-12-13T16:42:50.427-06:00Book clubs seem very difficult to sustain to me. T...Book clubs seem very difficult to sustain to me. That said, my work book club lasted a year before taking a break (we're on a break now but are reconvening in January), and we used the following system: Whoever's turn it was to pick got to choose three books, and everyone would do a blind vote, and whichever book got the most votes was the book for next book club. And then whoever disliked that book the most got to choose the next set of books. It was very checks-and-balances-y, and nobody was ever solely responsible for a crappy book.Jennyhttp://jennysbooks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-70436372928152871062012-12-11T15:01:36.254-06:002012-12-11T15:01:36.254-06:00Part of it may be a maturity thing too. At my age...Part of it may be a maturity thing too. At my age I hesitate to say that I don't like things in broad statements because there is always an exception to the rule. I could easily say I don't like the "romance" genre and yet I both like romance in other genres and I've read books from the romance section of the bookstore (most recently Colleen Gleason's early vampire series) and enjoyed them very much. I may have genres that I actively stay away from and are not my 'go to' places for reading but to say I don't like a genre in general seems to me to be an immature statement rather than a truism. Carl V. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15948764216438379394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-70126059193197174172012-12-11T14:40:07.224-06:002012-12-11T14:40:07.224-06:00I was just about to point out that one person pron...I was just about to point out that one person pronouncing that they don't like non-fiction also makes them a book snob! Good gracious, my reading preferences have been changing so much lately that I don't even know what I could call myself, but I'm pretty sure that having a preference only means that. I would stick with the wine and gossip, too. Depending on the type of wine served, of course :) Oops, wine snob here!Natalie~Coffee and a Book Chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12369504951819517390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-14954339504723754252012-12-11T14:12:25.873-06:002012-12-11T14:12:25.873-06:00I totally agree Carl. Sometimes is just one indivi...I totally agree Carl. Sometimes is just one individual that doesn't like anything and before you notice all the decisions are made to comply with this individual preferences. What is the point of it being a group then?CaroGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11001811509551339637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-61042058409146359582012-12-11T14:08:59.422-06:002012-12-11T14:08:59.422-06:00I only recently joined a "book club" (Th...I only recently joined a "book club" (The Sword and Laser) and one of the reasons why I joined was to expand my reading horizons, to go out of my comfort zone. I have to say, I am also happy that there are not real meetings, because I've rolled my eyes so many times to certain comments that I'm sure I would've been marked as a snob too. That said, I don't think is a snob thing to know what you like and express it. Is sad when people choose to stay inside a bubble, with books, food or anything...Very nice post :)CaroGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11001811509551339637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-13393586004538857102012-12-11T10:45:51.868-06:002012-12-11T10:45:51.868-06:00I think the idea of other people choosing whether ...I think the idea of other people choosing whether or not one is a book snob is wrong on the face of it anyway. There are too many factors that we don't know about people, and that they don't know about me, to make that judgment...unless of course I am feeding them reasons to do so (which I probably do sometimes). And I agree, when it comes to joining a book club, unless it is genre specific, like the classic science fiction book club I belong to, the whole point should be that any recommendation should be given proper consideration and everyone should be willing to try a variety and not just be looking out for their own wants and needs. Heck that is part of what being a group is all about.Carl V. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15948764216438379394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-42920764535965481532012-12-11T08:21:45.337-06:002012-12-11T08:21:45.337-06:00I don't think there's any harm in reading ...I don't think there's any harm in reading just one genre - I admit I find that short-sighted, but then I read only histfict and fantasy for a really long time before getting out of my comfort zone, so I know how hard it can be to expand when you are so committed to a certain type of book. <br /><br />It's more the idea of "I don't read that kind of book so let's choose one more in my comfort zone" that doesn't fly with me. I don't see why I am considered a book snob because I admitted I don't often read thrillers, but someone else is NOT a book snob because she doesn't ever read non-fiction.Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-65954418004470676582012-12-11T08:19:03.653-06:002012-12-11T08:19:03.653-06:00Yes, I dislike certain types of books, too, but I ...Yes, I dislike certain types of books, too, but I would read one for the sake of the discussion and at least give it a try - I don't think I'd just say no because I dislike the genre.Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-58417330551962590202012-12-11T08:18:25.605-06:002012-12-11T08:18:25.605-06:00As is life ;-)As is life ;-)Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-6133269264349663372012-12-11T08:18:07.143-06:002012-12-11T08:18:07.143-06:00No, and as my sister pointed out, the POINT of boo...No, and as my sister pointed out, the POINT of book clubs is to diversify your reading. So I'm fine with that, as long as people are open to it!Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-5315098025766009302012-12-11T00:21:00.749-06:002012-12-11T00:21:00.749-06:00I could have written that fifth paragraph myself!I could have written that fifth paragraph myself!Amy https://www.blogger.com/profile/15353920822811597411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-83477265572440341322012-12-10T21:32:08.182-06:002012-12-10T21:32:08.182-06:00Everybody has their snobbish areas, that is for su...Everybody has their snobbish areas, that is for sure. I know I have some book snobbish tendencies. Now I wouldn't judge someone out of hand if they said their favorite book was Twilight because we all have our favorites. Books touch us at different times in our lives for different reasons and often my favorites are not the "best" books I've read and certainly not the ones that are the best examples of the art of novel writing. But that shouldn't matter when it comes to favorites. Now if someone said that Twilight was the "best" book ever written, then I would just sniff disdainfully and walk away. Something that silly doesn't even deserve the wasted breath to argue. <br /><br />But I also don't believe a person has to read a wide variety of works to be considered a true reader, but that is because I read for pleasure and entertainment. When I venture out of my comfort zone I'm honestly doing that for pleasure too, not to challenge myself. That's just me being honest. I'm a snob in that sense, lol!<br /><br /> If someone wants to just read one genre, where is the harm in that? I read several genres but often lament that my favorite two, science fiction and fantasy, pace on rapidly ahead of me and I cannot keep up with all the latest books while also dipping into the classics and learning more about the history of the genre.<br /><br /> Some snobbishness is certainly okay, and it is probably all okay when we don't hurt anyone else with it. But I can't agree with the idea that one must venture outside what they like reading to be a valid reader or that those who do are in any way "better" readers than others. I think it all depends on why one reads. <br /><br />Sorry you had a bum experience at the book club. Everyone's opinions should be considered at these kind of things but we all know, even from our experiences online, that this is not often the case. If you don't agree with the consensus it is easy to be ostracized and put down. It is ridiculous but that is the way some people are. <br /><br />Sorry, this is a lot of babbling! Hope I made some degree of sense. Carl V. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15948764216438379394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-13625991234299259062012-12-10T17:26:14.281-06:002012-12-10T17:26:14.281-06:00I try so hard NOT to be a book snob, but I'm a...I try so hard NOT to be a book snob, but I'm afraid its impossible. I don't really like horror, or crime novels with serial killers that torture people, or SF dystopia, or certain types of so-called 'literary' novels ... that said, I do read very widely, and I try to read books outside my preferred genres at last once a year :)Kate Forsythhttp://www.kateforsyth.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-13573463330246984752012-12-10T16:39:02.956-06:002012-12-10T16:39:02.956-06:00Ha! I love this post. It's all an issue of per...Ha! I love this post. It's all an issue of perspective, for sure. Luckily, I am in a pretty open-minded book club. They'll choose anything -- though they may not like it once they've read it. It's always a crap shoot. Andihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05220718933942181809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-78549974523607331862012-12-10T15:49:00.061-06:002012-12-10T15:49:00.061-06:00In our book group, each person has an opportunity ...In our book group, each person has an opportunity to pick a book for their particular month and the others just sort of have to go with the choice. But usually the books are pretty decent. I guess in ways it's opened my mind to books I wouldn't have necessarily chosen to read myself. So I'm trying to keep open-minded about what other people pick because on some occasions I've been pleasantly surprised that I actually liked it. At first I was totally a book snob -- I only wanted to read types of books that I wanted to read but that's not exactly what you get in some book clubs. good luck with it. http://www.thecuecard.com/ thecuecardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870323589682197091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-40536280043700860932012-12-10T13:39:43.186-06:002012-12-10T13:39:43.186-06:00I know! And they deserve to be read!I know! And they deserve to be read!Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-73808790927709621272012-12-10T13:39:19.692-06:002012-12-10T13:39:19.692-06:00Yes, that's a good point. Though I guess it d...Yes, that's a good point. Though I guess it doesn't matter so much if the book isn't the main discussion point :-)Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-54943361252796463482012-12-10T13:38:48.469-06:002012-12-10T13:38:48.469-06:00Ooh, I am excited to look back over what I've ...Ooh, I am excited to look back over what I've read this year - I think it will be one of my most diverse reading years. And I think we'd be great in a book club together, too! Maybe we can do it virtually...Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-21187879771377572642012-12-10T13:34:44.727-06:002012-12-10T13:34:44.727-06:00I agree - sometimes I think books that are marked ...I agree - sometimes I think books that are marked as classics are at a disadvantage because people assume they are really hard!Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-30558113757809550242012-12-10T13:28:42.810-06:002012-12-10T13:28:42.810-06:00I would LOVE to sit by you and be snobs together b...I would LOVE to sit by you and be snobs together but I would NEVER consider you snobby by any stretch, Heather!Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-82412818212785836852012-12-10T13:27:59.303-06:002012-12-10T13:27:59.303-06:00Yes, that sounds pretty ideal! I want that one :-...Yes, that sounds pretty ideal! I want that one :-)Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-568236193600452762012-12-10T13:27:34.832-06:002012-12-10T13:27:34.832-06:00I realize you've removed this comment, but I d...I realize you've removed this comment, but I don't really mind you calling me a snob as I called myself that above. I honestly don't think there's anyone out there who isn't a snob about SOMETHING or other. If you're not, though, then you're a much nicer person than me. I've never claimed to not be judgmental.Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343567357202223317.post-58040049362191681282012-12-10T13:26:22.005-06:002012-12-10T13:26:22.005-06:00Yes, I should probably stop referring to it as a b...Yes, I should probably stop referring to it as a book club and start referring to it as a wine and gossip one.Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.com